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🌍 Imola Circuit (Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari)
🕰 1953
❓Formula 1, Superbike, minor races, car tests of Lamborghini and Pagani
📏 4909 meters
🕑1’13”609 by Valtteri Bottas during F1 qualifications in 2020
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Born in 1953, the Imola Circuit has been the protagonist of some of the greatest events in the history of wheeled vehicles, both cars, and motorcycles. This circuit, unlike all the modern ones, is based on numerous gradients since it was developed on a hilly terrain; this makes the Imola racetrack as complex as it is exciting for the drivers. Initially called “CONI Prototype”, the circuit took the name of “Autodromo Dino Ferrari” in 1970 in honor of the son of Enzo Ferrari, who died prematurely 14 years before. When also Enzo died in 1988 the Imola circuit was renamed “Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari”. In 1994, the legendary driver Ayrton Senna was the victim of a terrible accident. This and other accidents led to changes to the circuit to increase the curves so that they could decrease the speed reached by the cars, which in some cases became unmanageable. As for the presence of the Imola circuit in the Formula 1 championship, there was a problem: Italy already had its circuit, namely Monza, and a State could not register with more than one circuit. A trick was therefore used: the Imola racetrack would formally belong to the Republic of San Marino, a mini-State of 30.000 inhabitants located within Italy. In 2006, the State of San Marino, no longer having enough resources to finance the racetrack, decided to unsubscribe from Formula 1. In the following years, the circuit remained very active concerning car tests and other car and motorcycle tournaments. In 2021, the return of the Imola Circuit to Formula 1 was announced.

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